Hamilton Canal District may get innovative name

LOWELL -- Amid a restart on the Hamilton Canal District, two city councilors have an idea to rebrand the development.

Mayor Ed Kennedy and Councilor Bill Samaras filed a motion, which the full council unanimously approved Tuesday, requesting the name formally be changed to the Hamilton Canal Innovation District.

The proposed change is meant to play up the development's potential as a home to research-and-development and other companies that might want to locate there. UMass Lowell's Innovation Hub at the 110 Canal building, an incubator for start-ups, has been seen as a potential anchor for the development.

"I think this bodes well for us in the future to name this an innovation district," Samaras said.

Other councilors agreed, passing the proposal to City Manager Kevin Murphy's office for a report and recommendation.

"This is a small little piece, but it's an important piece," Councilor Jim Leary said of the rebranding effort.

It is a similar effort to one in Boston several years ago. Then-mayor Thomas Menino of Boston gave the burgeoning area of South Boston the name of the Innovation District. The name hasn't exactly stuck, and most people just call it the Seaport, but the area has boomed in recent years.

The Lowell proposal comes as the long-languishing Hamilton Canal District has begun taking steps forward after years of little action.

A master developer, WinnCompanies, came on board earlier this year after the previous developer backed out of the project.

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Construction of a $200 million courthouse is starting this fall, and next spring, work will start on new road and utility infrastructure, including a new bridge over the Lower Pawtucket Canal.

The council also approved the following on Tuesday:

n Request the city manager work with the Police Department to prioritize staffing to best deal with the opioid epidemic.

n Request the city manager provide a report updating progress or the results of the Division of Planning and Development survey of downtown business owners to gauge interest in a business improvement district.

n Request the city manager explore the feasibility of placing defibrillators inside all public buildings and private halls that serve the public.

n Request the city manager work with the proper department to install a street light by Domino's Pizza at 77 Mammoth Road.

n Request the city manager send a letter of appreciation to the Parks Department for work done at Shedd Park along Boylston Street.

n Accept a $7,500 donation from Digital Federal Credit Union, which will go toward next year's Lowell Police Academy and the National Night Out event.

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